Lions tour decider: Coach demands 'game of lives' to clinch series against Australia

Forwards coach Graham Rowntree today warned Australia that his Lions players are ready for the battle of their lives in the deciding third test at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.

A titanic series comes down to the final game – as it did in the 2001 clash between the teams – and Rowntree is confident this pride of Lions has one big performance to deliver to end a 16 year wait for a test series triumph to match the 1997 Lions in South Africa.

After dismissing rumours that Manu Tuilagi had a calf injury and Brian O’Driscoll, controversially dropped for this test, was going to be on the replacements bench, Rowntree said: "We're all good and ready to go and we are ready for this battle.

“We saw the reaction from Australia after they beat us in Melbourne - their captain James Horwill was crying. They threw everything at us, only beat us by a point and we didn't get our game going and we know that. There's loads more to come from us and the guys are desperate to win. This is grand final rugby, the last throw of the dice with everything to play for.

“We are confident there is one huge performance left in the tank and these players are desperate for tomorrow. We have to go out and give it everything because this is the biggest games of our lives, as players and coaches. A lot of us have been involved in grand final games, but this is the biggest one for us.”

Rowntree paid tribute to the contributions of Sam Warburton, O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell who are all injured but have been using their experience and leadership skills to bolster the team ahead of the huge match.

"Brian has been exemplary as the true professional he is,” said Rowntree.

"He's been leading the group still and helping the lads prepare. Sam and Paul have also spoken in most meetings and that's why we wanted them around. Alun-Wyn Jones has led the team very well and he has that respect among the players.

“We've restocked the team and made some changes. We want this game tomorrow and the word I would use is desperate. We really want this game.”

Wing Tommy Bowe admitted that while the Lions are aiming to batter the Wallabies into submission, they also have to show their attacking skills.

He explained: “We have to play rugby. Last week we did so much defending, we were on the back foot an awful lot, when we had it we kicked it away, we maybe regained it but then made an unforced error. This week, if we can play rugby we can do a lot of damage, certainly with a lot of the players we’ve got in this team.

"There are huge ball carriers there. If we can hold on to the ball, keep battering over the top of the Aussies, hopefully it will cause a bit of damage."

Wallaby hooker Stephen Moore has dismissed suggestions his team reached an emotional high last Saturday and will have difficult repeating that performance.

He said: ”We definitely played with that desperation last week, and maybe there was something in the back of the minds of the Lions guys that they did have another chance. But this weekend it's do or die for us and them. There's no lack of motivation from our side. This is one of the biggest games we are going to play in in our careers. That's not lost on any of the boys.”